Ansu Fati – Fortunebets

Ansu Fati scored on his first Barcelona appearance in 10 months to ease the pressure on under-fire boss Ronald Koeman in a 3-0 win over Levante at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Memphis Depay had given Barca the lead before Luuk de Jong scored his first goal for the club since joining from Sevilla on the final day of the summer transfer window, but Ansu stole the show with his 10-minute cameo.

Barca came into the match with just one win in five across all competitions and sources told ESPN recently that the club were exploring alternative options to Koeman as manager.

But the hosts raced out of the blocks and were ahead after just six minutes when Memphis won and converted a penalty following a clumsy challenge from Levante’s Nemanja Radoja.

Barca were 2-0 up nine minutes later thanks to fellow Netherlands forward De Jong. Sergino Dest was key in the goal as he led a counterattack and fed De Jong, who coolly slotted the ball past Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez.

However, the loudest cheer of the day was reserved for the 80th minute, when Ansu replaced De Jong.

Despite the feel-good factor in Camp Nou with Ansu’s return, Barca had Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for maintaining their advantage as he was called upon to make two late saves.

But Ansu, Barca’s new No. 10, made the points safe with the third in stoppage time to evoke an even more enthusiastic reaction from the supporters as he went into the crowd to celebrate with the doctor who helped his recovery from a serious knee injury.

I didn’t imagine a comeback like this,” Ansu said after the match. “When we play at home we always have to win. I am happy with the victory. We still have a long way to go.

“I want to show my appreciation to the doctors and the physios that have been with me throughout this process. And also to the fans, who were incredible.”

Asked he felt any pressure at wearing the No. 10 shirt vacated by Lionel Messi, he said: “Not for me. It’s an honour to wear it after Leo, I’m grateful to the club and the captains for giving me the chance to wear it.

“It’s not pressure. I am grateful to take on a number that has given this club so much.”

Ansu Fati has been given the No. 10 shirt at Barcelona after it was vacated by Lionel Messi’s move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the summer, the club confirmed Wednesday.

Sources told ESPN that Barca had considered leaving the number unused for the 2021-22 season, but LaLiga rules that first-team players must wear numbers 1-25 made that difficult.

Ansu, who returned to training recently following nine months out with a knee injury, had originally been given the No. 17 shirt for the upcoming campaign and has previously worn No. 22 and No. 33 since making his debut in 2019.

Messi, who joined PSG on a free transfer after his contract at Camp Nou expired, had worn the No. 10 at Barca since 2008, having previously worn No. 30 — the number he now wears in France — and No. 19.

The Argentina forward inherited the No. 10 from Ronaldinho, with Juan Roman Riquelme and Rivaldo among those to wear it before him.

Ansu, 18, has not played for Barcelona since injuring a knee against Real Betis last November. Following several operations, he returned to full training at the end of August, and Barca hope he will be available for action later in September.

The Spain international burst onto the scene in 2019, becoming the club’s youngest debutant in 78 years when he featured in a 5-2 win against Betis aged 16 years and 298 days.

A week later, he became the club’s youngest goalscorer in LaLiga when he netted against Osasuna, and in December of that year, his winning goal against Inter Milan made him the youngest scorer in the Champions League.

In total, he has made 41 appearances for the first team, scoring 13 goals.

Ansu will now form part of a new-look attack at Barcelona after Antoine Griezmann followed Messi out of the door on Tuesday, joining former club Atletico Madrid on loan with an option to stay permanently.

Barca responded by signing striker Luuk de Jong on loan from Sevilla, having already brought in Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero on free transfers this summer. Martin Braithwaite and Ousmane Dembele, who is currently injured, are their other options in attack, along with youngster Yusuf Demir.